Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Lake Mead National Recreation Area

This reference is an assemblage of field data collected as part the baseline vegetation inventory for the park unit. Typical files here are vegetation plot data, accuracy assessment data, field photos, PDF showing locations of vegetation plots and accuracy assessment data, and other data for this type. Vegetation inventory and mapping is a process to document the composition, distribution and abundance of vegetation types across the landscape and involves the skills and interactions of several parties; including the NPS, a vegetation classification team, and a mapping team. This required a multi-year approach and consisted of several broadly linked phases: (1) vegetation classification using the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), (2) digital vegetation map production, and (3) map accuracy assessment. To classify the vegetation, California Native Plant Society (CNPS) sampled 439 representative plots located throughout the 1,111,993-acre (450,008 ha) park during the fall of 2010. Another 199 plots from legacy data were included in the analysis within the vicinity of LAKE. Plot data analysis including ordination and clustering techniques produced 52 distinct vegetation alliances, five of which were newly described and 11 were redefined from previous alliance designations. These alliances include 112 associations, of which 60 are local or regional types not currently defined in the NVC. Using these data, the CNPS has developed the vegetation classification with associated digital vegetation databases, and developed field keys and descriptions to the vegetation types. CNPS also assisted the mapping team at LAKE during reconnaissance visits, follow-up calls for interpreting vegetation patterns being mapped, and map accuracy assessment evaluation.

Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Lake Mead National Recreation Area

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